Lalith Chaminda –
According to the annual audit report released by the National Audit Office for the year 2020, out of the medical supplies issued by the Medical Supplies Division to the Government Hospitals, Rs. 1,136.64 million worth drugs were substandard and not suitable for consumption.
The audit revealed that many of the medical supplies that failed with contained broken glasses, visible particles, and parts of dead cockroaches .
It was reported that some supplies have supplied deteriorated, discolored tablets and non-compliance with British pharmacological standards . Audit report noes that due to the adverse reactiobns of these substandard drugs three deaths have been occured.
According to the audit report, among the medical supplies that were discarded in the year 2020 were medicines used for antibiotics, allergies, cancer and asthma.
At the time of informing the hospital of the failure of the condition, the remaining amount of medical supplies had not been identified. During the year under review (2020), the Polonnaruwa District General Hospital received 609,561 units out of 13 unsuccessful drugs at a cost of Rs. 14.38 million, out of which 529,443 units were issued to 86.85 percent patients. No tests or inquiries were made on patients who used the drugs.
The audit report states that the circulars had informed the action to be taken only in respect of the remaining drugs.
Also, the cost of medical supplies that failed during the period from 2011 to 2020 was Rs. 2,364.69 million and that amount had not been recovered from the relevant suppliers. Of this, purchases from the Pharmaceutical Corporation were Rs. 2.111 million. 46, local purchases were Rs. 60.61 million, purchases from local manufacturers were Rs. 109.96 million, purchases from the State Pharmaceutical Corporation were Rs. 81.95 million and surgical gauze was Rs. 732,330.
The audit also revealed that at the time of issuing the circulars stating that certain medical supplies were failing, the loss due to the failure of the condition due to the expired drugs could not be recovered.
Although the audit reports continued to reveal that by August 31, 2021, there was no system in place to check the situation before dispensing the drugs to hospitals to avoid this situation.
